STURGEON IS QUITTING

I may get a T shirt.

I AM A DARK FORCE
or just
DARK FORCE

What font should I go for?

Writing letters?!! What an outrage! Who DO they think they are?!!

DARK FORCES.

Spoiler: it's women writing letters

twitter.com/forwomenscot/status/1626167031111331841?s=46&t=JO8k6mA654fNv1d6joqA5Q

I think there is a big difference between voting for an MP who holds some views or beliefs you don't share, but who as 'only' an MP will be a single cog within the wider party, and voting for that person to be the leader of the party. The leader has significantly more power and influence, the leader sets the tone and direction of the party. As we have seen with NS.

Should a person's (quite strong) religious beliefs prevent them from running for leadership of a political party? Absolutely not.

Should voters disregard the religious beliefs of their potential political party leaders? Also absolutely not.

Interestingly we seem to be seeing a Europe wide shift towards the right, in terms of voting. Perhaps having had NS's left-wing uber-progressive leadership for so long, SNP members might go the other way? Kate Forbes can play the traditional Scottish values, family values etc cards. After the GRR bad press perhaps people will want that? It will be interesting to watch.

Absolutely fair enough.

Nevertheless, I won't vote for someone who thinks abortion is murder, and homosexuality is a sin, even if Wee Frees deserve representation. Nor will I vote for a party headed by someone who has those views.

I am also of the opinion that Trumps views on women matter, even if sexists are entitled to representation. And of course they are ... but ...

Kate Forbes has been elected as an MSP, many of those who elected her will also be Wee Frees and it is quite right that their views are represented in Parliament. And those views should not prevent you being first minister - it is a leadership position, not a dictatorial one regardless of how Sturgeon treated it. Others in Parliament hold different views to Kate and in order to pass laws all MSP views should be taken into account in order to achieve a majority.

Oh jeez what is happening to me? 🙈 Can't believe I'm taking any notice of Wings. Just remembered it was him that pointed this out. This issue really has turned normal rivalrys and alliances on their heads hasn't it?

twitter.com/wingsscotland/status/1626153097901875201?s=46&t=oyCyoGtf9DrKnYBxlLofOA

I can't remember where I read it. It the section 35 has to be challenged by the 17th April. It's also not done for a government (executive) to make major announcements without a leader in place. Which makes it unlikely that they will challenge the section 35.

Which also raises questions about the timing of sturgeon's resignation.

BBC Breakfast is now on iPlayer and the interview with Mandy Rhodes of Holyrood magazine starts at 2:32:40. The comment on the GRR Act is towards the end, around 2:36.00.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001j74p/breakfast-16022023

Oh that would be amazing- I would most certainly be a fully paid up member knocking on doors

@OMG12 I've frequently said on here that we need a Mumsnet Party headed by JKR. There's enough UK based users that we could easily field a candidate in every constituency and the breadth of experience across these boards means we'd have people with actual real life knowledge of health, education, defence, etc for the Cabinet.

Viva la revolution, I say!

I kept checking her Twitter yesterday. I wonder if she's had someone take away her phone / laptop to keep her from temptation or if she's just got astonishing levels of self control!

I couldn't do it.

Oh most certainly. She’s probably enjoying sitting back and watching the show.

Maybe she should start her own party? I would move to Scotland to join it😀

I don't think anyone's religion should stop them from running, but it would be naive to think it won't impact their leadership bid and/or their experience as leader - as we saw with Tim Farron when he was Lib Dem leader.

news.sky.com/story/tim-farron-resigns-as-leader-of-liberal-democrats-10915873

The SNP has positioned itself and the ultimate lefty, progressive party in Scotland, and in the UK to an extent. I am sure that part of the GRR's wider purpose was to distinguish the SNP from those mean, old-fashioned, Westminster parties like the Conservatives and Labour. Remember the SNP has chased the youth vote hard as well, with campaigns to lower the voting age, and free university tuition. The youth vote is going to be more difficult to get with a traditionally religious party leader. Possibly more difficult for a Christian than any other religion tbh, as Christianity tends to be the religion our society sees as fair game for mainstream criticism and mockery, which tends not to be targeted at Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs for fear of accusations of racism / xenophobia / islamophobia.

Add in the standard level of misogyny as well, and Kate Forbes will definitely have an uphill struggle on her hands if she decides to go for it.

I find it quite disturbing that you think a Christian shouldn’t run, do you think a Muslim shouldn’t either? And surely an atheist is ‘at odds’ with all those of religious faith?

It's not that she's a Christian, but that she's a 'fundamentalist' Christian. She's a member of the Free Church of Scotland. They're quite hard core. And she's been absolutely explicit that people know that about her. I feel she's kind of saying, 'vote for me but know what you get, my faith is everything, it's who I am'. Which is honest, but we'd better heed the warning.

Free Church do not believe in abortion, for example. They don't celebrate Christmas or Easter because those aren't in the Bible (I think). I don't think they work on Sundays ... again, not 100% sure. But they are probably the most hard core Christian faith in Scotland.

I think all the new leader talk and what nuanced fresh independence hell will be brought onto Scotland is a moot point; there will be no real change in the SNP if Peter Murrell, Nicola sturgeon’s husband, is still CEO of the party.

I don't want to speak for @NicolaSturGONE but I haven't seen that poster or any other say Kate Forbes shouldn't run.

But, given her strongly held beliefs and 1) does she have a chance of succeeding and 2) could she act as First Minister in the interests of all groups?

most Muslims Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindis also share those beliefs

So? Why should she not run? Do your beliefs not put you are odds with transwomen and biological women such at Kate Forbes?

if Kate should not run because she is a Christian ( I don't think she will run because her family is based in the Highlands and her daughter is not yet 1) the Humza should not run because he is a Muslim, some others should not run as they are Catholic, Rishi is a practising Hindu. Relgion is also a protected characteristic according to UN everyone should have freedom of religion ( including having no faith) both in public and private life and the right to educate their children in the same faith. Excluding people of faith from public life is just as discriminatory as excluding people on the basis of no faith, or any other characteristic

The relevant part of @NicolaSturGONE's post is "she's also got christian beliefs which would put her at odds with both transwomen and biological women" (my emphasis).

It's her specific Christian beliefs that are under discussion. She is against gay marriage and against abortion in most circumstances.

BordoisAgain · Today 11:26

But I thought it was only the 3 of us on here who were against this and the rest of the known universe was all for it?

Yes; and aren't we all smelly, homophobic racists as well? I must say, I'm rather confused now.

I find it quite disturbing that you think a Christian shouldn’t run, do you think a Muslim shouldn’t either? And surely an atheist is ‘at odds’ with all those of religious faith?

But I thought it was only the 3 of us on here who were against this and the rest of the known universe was all for it?

Kate Forbes would be a fool to run. Not only has she not long had a baby, she's also got christian beliefs which would put her at odds with both transwomen and biological women. She's not been an MSP for long so potentially not experienced enough. If she's smart, she won't stand, at least not right now. I fully expect Humza Useless to stand, not so sure about John Swinney.